European Economic Community (EEC)
regional trade agreement founded in 1957 with the goal to dissolve tariffs in Europe and increase free trade, create a common currency across Europe, and work in conjunction with the European Union, which lead to increased economic prosperity in Europe post-WWII
European Union (EU)
the final step in a series of arrangements that started after WWII to increase cooperation between European states through the formation of a cooperation of European countries to address political and socioeconomic issues, eventually leading to the creation of a common currency, the Euro, and allowed for reduced/eliminated travel and trade barriers across the continent; recently, Great Britain voted to leave the union (Brexit)
Green Revolution
also known as the "Third Agricultural Revolution", it was a set of research technology transfer initiatives occurring between 1950 and the late 1960s, that increased agricultural production worldwide, particularly in the developing world; the initiatives resulted in the adoption of new technologies, including high-yielding varieties of grains, in association with chemical fertilizers and agro-chemicals, and with controlled water-supply and new methods of cultivation; these led to a rapid increase in population in developing Asian countries
Kyoto Protocol on Global Warming
an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to slow global warming - this was signed by 174 countries as of November 2007 but not the USA, which caused international tensions
Liberation Theology
Roman Catholic movement, that is particularly active in Latin America, which argues that Christians need to engage in the pursuit of social justice and human rights
Negritude Movement
grassroots movement that strove to revive African culture and traditions as expressed by poets and artists, this led to Pan-African movements and nationalist movements to remove foreign European influence and anti-colonial movements
Neoliberalism
an economic and political worldview developed in the 1970s that sees the free market as the main mechanism for ensuring economic growth, with a severely restricted role for government (including reduced tariffs) - it was especially advocated by Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan and has been held responsible for the growing disparity between the rich and the poor as well as the Recession of 2008
Pacific Rim Economies
the geographic area surrounding the Pacific Ocean which contains countries that rapidly industrialized and modernized after decolonization (i.e. Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan) and became a hotbed of technological innovation and export and key players in globalization
Second Wave Feminism
women's rights movement that revived in the 1960s with a different agenda than earlier women's suffrage movements, which included equal rights for women in employment and education, women's right to control their bodies, and the end of patriarchal domination
United Nations (UN)
an international organization of independent states formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security to prevent another World War in the future, it's effectiveness was tested in the forthcoming Cold War era and beyond - it also provides humanitarian assistance around the world to areas in need through a variety of organizations that work to facilitate international cooperation.
World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)
is a global association of 401 organizations who are committed to improving the livelihoods of economically marginalized producers; its goals include creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers, develop producers independence, fair pricing, gender equity, safe working environments and practices